Patti Kernaghan, a well-known and respected professional in the Canadian insurance property and casualty industry, is the chief executive officer of Kernaghan Adjusters. Patti is recognized in her industry as a distinguished and exceptional leader, and as a perceptive entrepreneur.

The Insurance Institute of Canada granted Patti their Award of Merit in 2002. Her peers in the industry named her the Insurance Person of the Year for BC in 2006.  In 2018 the CIAA granted her the distinction of Fellow of the Canadian Independent Adjusters Association (FCIAA).  These industry recognitions have helped set Kernaghan Adjusters apart as a firm with strong leadership at the helm.

Patti studied International Relations at UBC and soon afterwards embarked upon a career in banking.   After ten years of various management positions at the Bank of Montreal, she joined her father, Stan Kernaghan, and began her insurance claims career. Patti started as a junior adjuster and ultimately held several management positions before being named President and CEO in 1993. Since then she has focused her attention on the vision and direction of the firm’s position within the adjusting services market.

Contributing to the professionalism of the industry comes naturally to Patti.  She has served as President of several associations: Canadian Independent Adjusters Association, International Federation of Adjusting Associations, The Insurance Institute of BC, and the Canadian Professionals of Vancouver.  She was also a founding member of several boards: Chair for the National Insurance Industry Advisory Board to the CIAA, the BCIT Advisory Board for Insurance and Risk Management, and the Steering Committee for WICC (Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade BC).  She served as the Western Chair for the Insurance Institute of Canada, and was a member of the Insurance and Risk Management Advisory Board for the University of Calgary.  She has also served on the Academic Council for IIC, the Education Committee for IIC, and on the Advisory Board of the Kinsmen Rehabilitation Foundation of BC. Patti is a Fellow Charter Insurance Professional under seal of Insurance Institutes of Canada and holds a Canadian Risk Management Diploma.

Patti has a strong record of developing and maintaining critical business relationships.  She is an effective leader who upholds the interests of her staff at the forefront of everything that is done at Kernaghan Adjusters.  Her collaborative work style helps set Kernaghan Adjusters apart in the independent adjusting market in Canada.

Scott Hughes has over 25 years of financial experience. He has worked in a variety of roles that include, CFO and Controller for a chemical manufacturing firm in Calgary, and Controller for an engineering firm in Vancouver. His experience includes managing accounting and financial departments, IT departments and overseeing HR program administration and implementing accounting systems in both large and mid-sized firms. He has worked in Canada and Australia.

Scott believes that a strong, cohesive team is the key to a successful accounting department. He embraces change and is open to learning new practices. Education and continuous learning are important to Scott. He has a Certified Management Accountant designation and a BA majoring in Economics.

Scott joined Kernaghan Adjusters in August 2018 as Director of Finance. His collaborative and open approach has made him an essential member of Kernaghan Adjusters Head Office and Senior Management Team.

Owen began his career in the insurance industry in 2005 as a claims examiner, handling a variety of claims from minor property damage losses to multi-million-dollar fires. In 2012, Owen moved to London, England where he gained invaluable Lloyd’s experience at QBE where he worked alongside International Property, Casualty and Marine and Energy departments to manage a global portfolio of third party administrators and coverholders.

Owen joined Kernaghan Adjusters Head Office in 2017 fulfilling our need for a London Services Manager. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McGill university, a CIP designation and an Award in London Market Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute (London, UK). He is responsible for growing, developing and managing London market business both nationally and internationally.

Rosario Ray began her career in the insurance industry in 2008 at one of Canada’s top five largest property/casualty insurers. As an Examiner, Rosario’s expertise included a variety of personal and commercial property and personal liability claims, including the 2013 Catastrophic Flooding in Alberta. Before moving to Canada from the Philippines in 2001, Rosario led an IBM ISV Support Center where she managed 12 multilingual administrators in 9 countries located in the Asian Pacific Region

In April 2014, Rosario decided to leave the insurer side and venture into the independent adjusting world. Kernaghan Adjusters were lucky to welcome Rosario to our Calgary office. An incredibly fast learner, she quickly earned a reputation amongst KA clients as a talented adjuster.  Rosario expertly handled many large loss files including, the high- profile Canmore Explosion in June of 2015, and the 2016 Catastrophic Wildfires in Fort McMurray and areas.

Rosario has been most recently employed with a Specialist Insurer, where she controls numerous large programs,  as well as non-program property losses in the provinces of BC, AB, MB, SK, ON, ON, YT, NU and NWT.

Rosario is passionate about education and personal development.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Accounting from Ateneo de Naga University. A Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Phoenix University. She also holds a CIP with 3 awards for excellent performance from the Insurance Institute of Canada.

Kernaghan Adjusters are thrilled to welcome Rosario back to the Alberta team.  Rosario will bring an analytical and process driven management style to grow, develop and oversee our strong Alberta adjusting team.  She will also hold a place on the KA Senior Management Team.

Dennis Schembri is a well-known and highly respected insurance professional.  Since 1980, he has gained valuable experience working for both insurers and independent adjusting firms. Dennis founded Vanler Insurance Adjusters Ltd in 1993, and soon expanded the firm’s operations to include over 70 full-time employees in six locations across Ontario. As a senior property/casualty adjuster, his wide range of claims expertise includes personal and commercial property, premises and products liability and host liquor liability.

After the sale of his firm in 2007, Dennis joined Granite Global Solutions at the senior management level in sales, marketing, and strategic direction and Managing Director, Canada.  He soon rose to the position of Executive Vice President, Client Management, for all divisions.

During his career, Dennis has built a reputation on honesty, integrity, and a commonsense approach to problem solving. He also takes pride in his ability to develop strong relationships with clients and his staff.

His professional accomplishments notwithstanding, Dennis also has a respected reputation for community involvement. He is a past executive of the OIAA and has assisted on various committees with the CIAA.  He volunteers at The Grace Salvation Army Hospital in their Palliative Care Unit, also a volunteer for the Fellows Starlight Gala Ball, a board member for the Peel Children’s Centre and has assisted in raising millions of dollars for various charities. Dennis has also coached, mentored, volunteered with, or sponsored at least 30 hockey, baseball, lacrosse, and soccer teams.

Since joining KA in 2016, Dennis’ Ontario team has benefited from his intuitive leadership qualities, adept sense of when to act on things, and ability to recognize opportunities. Dennis has also been an integral part of the National Senior Management Team. In 2021, he was recognized for his achievements by being appointed as Vice President Ontario & Atlantic Canada Operations.

Phil began his insurance career over 40 years ago in Nova Scotia, as an independent adjuster with a respected Sydney firm. In 1978 he moved to the insurer side to become a general adjuster and was eventually promoted to Claims Supervisor. Phil soon gained recognition as a highly skilled technician, serving in that capacity until November 2007. He has proven expertise in casualty claims, as well as in areas ranging from major industrial losses to criminal investigations.

Phil joined Kernaghan Adjusters in 2008 as Nova Scotia Regional Manager and became an important member of KA’s Senior Management Team. He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Professionals of Canada (FCIP) since 1993 and has acted as an instructor for numerous Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) courses. Phil is a recognized professional and an industry veteran whose ability to serve as an experienced mentor provides a great benefit to everyone on his team.